BARACK OBAMA AND THE CAMPAIGN TO RECONSTITUTE THE FUNCTIONAL FAMILY

Two days ago, I witnessed an event that increased my confidence in America's ability to get its act together. On Tuesday, June 3, 2008, Illinois Senator Barack Obama became the Democratic Party's presidential nominee. He accomplished this feat by securing support from superdelegates within the Democratic Party.

As I listened to Senator Obama's speech on the Cable News Network, I had a difficult time containing my emotions. A lone tear trickled down the left side of my face to rest in the left corner of my mouth. "He did it," I said under my breath. "A black man. Change we can believe in."

But why? Why do I believe Obama's change will be better than changes being proposed by Senator John McCain, the Republican Party's nominee? Because the most telling change during this presidential election season is represented in Senator Obama's personhood. By being bi-racial - the offspring of a black father and white mother - his presence on the political stage compels us to question our past and present prejudices. It also prompts white Americans, the heirs to unmerited privilege, to get in touch with the preconceived notions that cause them to look down on black Americans and other persons of color.

This past Tuesday, Pamela J. Gentry, senior political producer for Black Entertainment Television (BET) News, was the featured guest on my Internet radio talk show "FIRM...but fair" with Jeffery A. Faulkerson. The title of this segment was AGENTS OF CHANGE: What Must Black America Do to Reclaim Its Image? Gentry and I talked about Senator Obama and the stereotypes that have caused black Americans to feel less than, white Americans more than. We black Americans have been told by unenlightened white Americans either directly or indirectly that we lack the intelligence to be leaders of the free world. The same held true in the world of sports, more specifically football, when these same unenlightened white Americans almost convinced us that the term "black quarterback" was an oxymoron. But a number of black guarterbacks have gone on to lead their teams to championship seasons.

But we black Americans are also demonstrating our skills sets in politics, medicine, law and a host of other fields. We're not succeeding in these fields for power and control. I believe we just want to be respected for the flavor that we add to the mix. It is this flavor that will encourage those who falsely

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